Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q2

Y. P. Zhang; Z. H. Ye; D. Nguyen; P. Aguilera; Z. Ahmed; H. Albataineh; K. Allada; B. Anderson; D. Anez; K. Aniol; J. Annand; J. Arrington; T. Averett; H. Baghdasaryan; X. Bai; A. Beck; S. Beck; V. Bellini; F. Benmokhtar; A. Camsonne; C. Chen; J. P. Chen; K. Chirapatpimol; E. Cisbani; S. Covig Dusa; M. M. Dalton; D. Day; W. Deconinck; M. Defurne; D. Flay; N. Fomin; M. Friend; E. Fuchey; F. Garibaldi; D. Gaskell; S. Gilad; R. Gilman; S. Glamazdin; C. Gu; P. Guèye; C. Hanretty; J. O. Hansen; M. Hashemi Shabestari; D. W. Higinbotham; M. Huang; S. Iqbal; G. Jin; N. Kalantarians; H. Kang; A. Kelleher; I. Korover; J. Lerose; J. Leckey; S. Li; R. Lindgren; E. Long; J. Mammei; P. Markowitz; D. Meekins; R. Michaels; M. Mihovilovič; N. Muangma; C. Munoz Camacho; B. E. Norum; Nuruzzaman; K. Pan; S. Phillips; E. Piasetzky; I. Pomerantz; M. Posik; V. Punjabi; X. Qian; Y. Qiang; X. Qiu; P. E. Reimer; A. Rakhman; S. Riordan; G. Ron; O. Rondon-Aramayo; L. Selvy; A. Shahinyan; R. Shneor; S. Širca; K. Slifer; N. Sparveris; R. Subedi; V. Sulkosky; D. Wang; J. W. Watson; L. B. Weinstein; B. Wojtsekhowski; S. A. Wood; I. Yaron; J. Zhang; Y. W. Zhang; B. Zhao; X. Zheng; P. Zhu; R. Zielinski

doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087

Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q²

Y. P. Zhang
, Z. H. Ye
, D. Nguyen
, P. Aguilera
, Z. Ahmed
, H. Albataineh
, K. Allada
, B. Anderson
, D. Anez
, K. Aniol
, J. Annand
, J. Arrington
, T. Averett
, H. Baghdasaryan
, X. Bai
, A. Beck
, S. Beck
, V. Bellini
, F. Benmokhtar
, A. Camsonne

C. Chen, J. P. Chen, K. Chirapatpimol, E. Cisbani, S. Covig Dusa, M. M. Dalton, D. Day, W. Deconinck, M. Defurne, D. Flay, N. Fomin, M. Friend, E. Fuchey, F. Garibaldi, D. Gaskell, S. Gilad, R. Gilman, S. Glamazdin, C. Gu, P. Guèye, C. Hanretty, J. O. Hansen, M. Hashemi Shabestari, D. W. Higinbotham, M. Huang, S. Iqbal, G. Jin, N. Kalantarians, H. Kang, A. Kelleher, I. Korover, J. Lerose, J. Leckey, S. Li, R. Lindgren, E. Long, J. Mammei, P. Markowitz, D. Meekins, R. Michaels, M. Mihovilovič, N. Muangma, C. Munoz Camacho, B. E. Norum, Nuruzzaman, K. Pan, S. Phillips, E. Piasetzky, I. Pomerantz, M. Posik, V. Punjabi, X. Qian, Y. Qiang, X. Qiu, P. E. Reimer, A. Rakhman, S. Riordan, G. Ron, O. Rondon-Aramayo, L. Selvy, A. Shahinyan, R. Shneor, S. Širca, K. Slifer, N. Sparveris, R. Subedi, V. Sulkosky, D. Wang, J. W. Watson, L. B. Weinstein, B. Wojtsekhowski, S. A. Wood, I. Yaron, J. Zhang, Y. W. Zhang, B. Zhao, X. Zheng, P. Zhu, R. Zielinski

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We present results from the Jefferson Lab E08-014 experiment, investigating short-range correlations (SRC) through measurements of inclusive quasi-elastic scattering from ²H, ³He, ⁴He, ¹²C, ⁴⁰Ca, and ⁴⁸Ca. The kinematics were selected to isolate scattering from SRCs, yielding a plateau in the A/²H cross-section ratios due to the universal two-body structure of the 2N-SRCs in light and heavy nuclei. We observe approximate plateaus in the A/²H ratios and provide the first extractions of the A/²H ratio for ⁴⁰Ca and ⁴⁸Ca. We also examine the A/³He ratio, aiming to identify three-nucleon SRCs (3N-SRCs). Following the approach for isolating 2N-SRCs, searching for 3N-SRC dominance involved measuring the A/³He cross section ratio at modest-to-large Q ² values and looking for a plateau ratios for . This was not observed in the data, and in fact increasing Q ² values moved the data further away from the predicted plateau. We show here that, when analyzed in terms of the struck nucleon’s light-cone momentum, the data exhibited the expected trend, progressively approaching the predicted 3N-SRC plateau. These observations suggest that future measurements at higher energies may facilitate a definitive isolation and identification of 3N-SRCs.

Original language	English
Article number	140087
Journal	Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics
Volume	872
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087
State	Published - Jan 2026
Externally published	Yes

Funding

We gratefully acknowledge the exceptional support from the Hall A technical staff and the JLab target group. This work was partially supported by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under Contracts No. DE-AC05-06OR23177, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-FG02-96ER40950, and DE-SC0013615 as well as by the National Science Foundation. Additional support under DOE Contract No. DE-AC05-06OR23177 was provided through JSA, LLC, which operates JLab. Y.P. Zhang and Z.H. Ye acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation of China under contract 12275148 and 12361141822 and the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program. A. Shahinyan acknowledges support from Grant 21AG-1C085 by the Science Committee of the Republic of Armenia. The 48 Ca isotope used in this research was supplied by the Isotope Program within the Office of Nuclear Physics in the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Finally, we remember and honor Patricia Solvignon, who was instrumental in the development of Experiment E08-014; her passing is deeply felt by our community.

Keywords

Nucleon-nucleon interaction
Quasi-elastic scattering
Short-range correlations

Access to Document

10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087

Cite this

Zhang, Y. P., Ye, Z. H., Nguyen, D., Aguilera, P., Ahmed, Z., Albataineh, H., Allada, K., Anderson, B., Anez, D., Aniol, K., Annand, J., Arrington, J., Averett, T., Baghdasaryan, H., Bai, X., Beck, A., Beck, S., Bellini, V., Benmokhtar, F., ... Zielinski, R. (2026). Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q². Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics, 872, Article 140087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087

@article{b660f000f63246d3be135e4f58e3b138,

title = "Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e{\textquoteright}) at x > 1 and modest Q2",

abstract = "We present results from the Jefferson Lab E08-014 experiment, investigating short-range correlations (SRC) through measurements of inclusive quasi-elastic scattering from 2H, 3He, 4He, 12C, 40Ca, and 48Ca. The kinematics were selected to isolate scattering from SRCs, yielding a plateau in the A/2H cross-section ratios due to the universal two-body structure of the 2N-SRCs in light and heavy nuclei. We observe approximate plateaus in the A/2H ratios and provide the first extractions of the A/2H ratio for 40Ca and 48Ca. We also examine the A/3He ratio, aiming to identify three-nucleon SRCs (3N-SRCs). Following the approach for isolating 2N-SRCs, searching for 3N-SRC dominance involved measuring the A/3He cross section ratio at modest-to-large Q 2 values and looking for a plateau ratios for . This was not observed in the data, and in fact increasing Q 2 values moved the data further away from the predicted plateau. We show here that, when analyzed in terms of the struck nucleon{\textquoteright}s light-cone momentum, the data exhibited the expected trend, progressively approaching the predicted 3N-SRC plateau. These observations suggest that future measurements at higher energies may facilitate a definitive isolation and identification of 3N-SRCs.",

keywords = "Nucleon-nucleon interaction, Quasi-elastic scattering, Short-range correlations",

author = "Zhang, \{Y. P.\} and Ye, \{Z. H.\} and D. Nguyen and P. Aguilera and Z. Ahmed and H. Albataineh and K. Allada and B. Anderson and D. Anez and K. Aniol and J. Annand and J. Arrington and T. Averett and H. Baghdasaryan and X. Bai and A. Beck and S. Beck and V. Bellini and F. Benmokhtar and A. Camsonne and C. Chen and Chen, \{J. P.\} and K. Chirapatpimol and E. Cisbani and Dusa, \{S. Covig\} and Dalton, \{M. M.\} and D. Day and W. Deconinck and M. Defurne and D. Flay and N. Fomin and M. Friend and E. Fuchey and F. Garibaldi and D. Gaskell and S. Gilad and R. Gilman and S. Glamazdin and C. Gu and P. Gu{\`e}ye and C. Hanretty and Hansen, \{J. O.\} and \{Hashemi Shabestari\}, M. and Higinbotham, \{D. W.\} and M. Huang and S. Iqbal and G. Jin and N. Kalantarians and H. Kang and A. Kelleher and I. Korover and J. Lerose and J. Leckey and S. Li and R. Lindgren and E. Long and J. Mammei and P. Markowitz and D. Meekins and R. Michaels and M. Mihovilovi{\v c} and N. Muangma and Camacho, \{C. Munoz\} and Norum, \{B. E.\} and Nuruzzaman and K. Pan and S. Phillips and E. Piasetzky and I. Pomerantz and M. Posik and V. Punjabi and X. Qian and Y. Qiang and X. Qiu and Reimer, \{P. E.\} and A. Rakhman and S. Riordan and G. Ron and O. Rondon-Aramayo and L. Selvy and A. Shahinyan and R. Shneor and S. {\v S}irca and K. Slifer and N. Sparveris and R. Subedi and V. Sulkosky and D. Wang and Watson, \{J. W.\} and Weinstein, \{L. B.\} and B. Wojtsekhowski and Wood, \{S. A.\} and I. Yaron and J. Zhang and Zhang, \{Y. W.\} and B. Zhao and X. Zheng and P. Zhu and R. Zielinski",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors.",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087",

language = "English",

volume = "872",

journal = "Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics",

issn = "0370-2693",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Zhang, YP, Ye, ZH, Nguyen, D, Aguilera, P, Ahmed, Z, Albataineh, H, Allada, K, Anderson, B, Anez, D, Aniol, K, Annand, J, Arrington, J, Averett, T, Baghdasaryan, H, Bai, X, Beck, A, Beck, S, Bellini, V, Benmokhtar, F, Camsonne, A, Chen, C, Chen, JP, Chirapatpimol, K, Cisbani, E, Dusa, SC, Dalton, MM, Day, D, Deconinck, W, Defurne, M, Flay, D, Fomin, N, Friend, M, Fuchey, E, Garibaldi, F, Gaskell, D, Gilad, S, Gilman, R, Glamazdin, S, Gu, C, Guèye, P, Hanretty, C, Hansen, JO, Hashemi Shabestari, M, Higinbotham, DW, Huang, M, Iqbal, S, Jin, G, Kalantarians, N, Kang, H, Kelleher, A, Korover, I, Lerose, J, Leckey, J, Li, S, Lindgren, R, Long, E, Mammei, J, Markowitz, P, Meekins, D, Michaels, R, Mihovilovič, M, Muangma, N, Camacho, CM, Norum, BE, Nuruzzaman, Pan, K, Phillips, S, Piasetzky, E, Pomerantz, I, Posik, M, Punjabi, V, Qian, X, Qiang, Y, Qiu, X, Reimer, PE, Rakhman, A, Riordan, S, Ron, G, Rondon-Aramayo, O, Selvy, L, Shahinyan, A, Shneor, R, Širca, S, Slifer, K, Sparveris, N, Subedi, R, Sulkosky, V, Wang, D, Watson, JW, Weinstein, LB, Wojtsekhowski, B, Wood, SA, Yaron, I, Zhang, J, Zhang, YW, Zhao, B, Zheng, X, Zhu, P & Zielinski, R 2026, 'Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q²', Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics, vol. 872, 140087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087

TY - JOUR

T1 - Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q2

AU - Zhang, Y. P.

AU - Ye, Z. H.

AU - Nguyen, D.

AU - Aguilera, P.

AU - Ahmed, Z.

AU - Albataineh, H.

AU - Allada, K.

AU - Anderson, B.

AU - Anez, D.

AU - Aniol, K.

AU - Annand, J.

AU - Arrington, J.

AU - Averett, T.

AU - Baghdasaryan, H.

AU - Bai, X.

AU - Beck, A.

AU - Beck, S.

AU - Bellini, V.

AU - Benmokhtar, F.

AU - Camsonne, A.

AU - Chen, C.

AU - Chen, J. P.

AU - Chirapatpimol, K.

AU - Cisbani, E.

AU - Dusa, S. Covig

AU - Dalton, M. M.

AU - Day, D.

AU - Deconinck, W.

AU - Defurne, M.

AU - Flay, D.

AU - Fomin, N.

AU - Friend, M.

AU - Fuchey, E.

AU - Garibaldi, F.

AU - Gaskell, D.

AU - Gilad, S.

AU - Gilman, R.

AU - Glamazdin, S.

AU - Gu, C.

AU - Guèye, P.

AU - Hanretty, C.

AU - Hansen, J. O.

AU - Hashemi Shabestari, M.

AU - Higinbotham, D. W.

AU - Huang, M.

AU - Iqbal, S.

AU - Jin, G.

AU - Kalantarians, N.

AU - Kang, H.

AU - Kelleher, A.

AU - Korover, I.

AU - Lerose, J.

AU - Leckey, J.

AU - Li, S.

AU - Lindgren, R.

AU - Long, E.

AU - Mammei, J.

AU - Markowitz, P.

AU - Meekins, D.

AU - Michaels, R.

AU - Mihovilovič, M.

AU - Muangma, N.

AU - Camacho, C. Munoz

AU - Norum, B. E.

AU - Nuruzzaman,

AU - Pan, K.

AU - Phillips, S.

AU - Piasetzky, E.

AU - Pomerantz, I.

AU - Posik, M.

AU - Punjabi, V.

AU - Qian, X.

AU - Qiang, Y.

AU - Qiu, X.

AU - Reimer, P. E.

AU - Rakhman, A.

AU - Riordan, S.

AU - Ron, G.

AU - Rondon-Aramayo, O.

AU - Selvy, L.

AU - Shahinyan, A.

AU - Shneor, R.

AU - Širca, S.

AU - Slifer, K.

AU - Sparveris, N.

AU - Subedi, R.

AU - Sulkosky, V.

AU - Wang, D.

AU - Watson, J. W.

AU - Weinstein, L. B.

AU - Wojtsekhowski, B.

AU - Wood, S. A.

AU - Yaron, I.

AU - Zhang, J.

AU - Zhang, Y. W.

AU - Zhao, B.

AU - Zheng, X.

AU - Zhu, P.

AU - Zielinski, R.

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - We present results from the Jefferson Lab E08-014 experiment, investigating short-range correlations (SRC) through measurements of inclusive quasi-elastic scattering from 2H, 3He, 4He, 12C, 40Ca, and 48Ca. The kinematics were selected to isolate scattering from SRCs, yielding a plateau in the A/2H cross-section ratios due to the universal two-body structure of the 2N-SRCs in light and heavy nuclei. We observe approximate plateaus in the A/2H ratios and provide the first extractions of the A/2H ratio for 40Ca and 48Ca. We also examine the A/3He ratio, aiming to identify three-nucleon SRCs (3N-SRCs). Following the approach for isolating 2N-SRCs, searching for 3N-SRC dominance involved measuring the A/3He cross section ratio at modest-to-large Q 2 values and looking for a plateau ratios for . This was not observed in the data, and in fact increasing Q 2 values moved the data further away from the predicted plateau. We show here that, when analyzed in terms of the struck nucleon’s light-cone momentum, the data exhibited the expected trend, progressively approaching the predicted 3N-SRC plateau. These observations suggest that future measurements at higher energies may facilitate a definitive isolation and identification of 3N-SRCs.

AB - We present results from the Jefferson Lab E08-014 experiment, investigating short-range correlations (SRC) through measurements of inclusive quasi-elastic scattering from 2H, 3He, 4He, 12C, 40Ca, and 48Ca. The kinematics were selected to isolate scattering from SRCs, yielding a plateau in the A/2H cross-section ratios due to the universal two-body structure of the 2N-SRCs in light and heavy nuclei. We observe approximate plateaus in the A/2H ratios and provide the first extractions of the A/2H ratio for 40Ca and 48Ca. We also examine the A/3He ratio, aiming to identify three-nucleon SRCs (3N-SRCs). Following the approach for isolating 2N-SRCs, searching for 3N-SRC dominance involved measuring the A/3He cross section ratio at modest-to-large Q 2 values and looking for a plateau ratios for . This was not observed in the data, and in fact increasing Q 2 values moved the data further away from the predicted plateau. We show here that, when analyzed in terms of the struck nucleon’s light-cone momentum, the data exhibited the expected trend, progressively approaching the predicted 3N-SRC plateau. These observations suggest that future measurements at higher energies may facilitate a definitive isolation and identification of 3N-SRCs.

KW - Nucleon-nucleon interaction

KW - Quasi-elastic scattering

KW - Short-range correlations

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024856887

U2 - 10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087

DO - 10.1016/j.physletb.2025.140087

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105024856887

SN - 0370-2693

VL - 872

JO - Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics

JF - Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics

M1 - 140087

ER -

Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q²

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

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Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q2

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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Fingerprint

Cite this

Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e’) at x > 1 and modest Q²